Your Gifted Child
There are myriad ways, both at school and at home, to help your child reach his academic potential.
The word gifted has become so loaded. Does it mean "genius"? Does it mean "really bright" or "book smart"? Or is it an over-used phrase that has no meaning at all? Isn't everyone's child "gifted" in some way or another?
Over the last decade or so, the definition of giftedness has changed along with educators' approaches to teaching children who possess extraordinary talent. The federal government defines gifted children as those who show "evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities."
In other words, gifted kids need special attention to help them take advantage of those gifts. When they are recognized for their talents, they grow and perform, and produce amazing things. When their gifts are underutilized, often they are bored and don't reach their full potential, says Joseph S. Renzulli, director of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented at the University of Connecticut. "They don't experience the satisfaction and joy in learning," he says.
So how do you know if your child is gifted? Generally, if you notice that your child has abilities — intellectually, physically, artistically, or otherwise — that far exceed those of his or her peers, that's giftedness, says James Gallagher, Ph.D., professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
But there are different types of gifts, educators agree. Some have what Renzulli calls "schoolhouse giftedness" or "high achieving giftedness," measured by high scores on standard tests of intelligence or by their advanced knowledge and analytical skills. Others have "creative/productive giftedness" meaning they excel at the arts, in dance, in sport, or in music. In either case, your job as a parent is to help nurture those gifts both at school and at home.
At School
Nine-year-old Emma's writing ability was way beyond what her teachers saw from her classmates. She was writing plays with serious-sounding dialogue. Ultimately, the suburban New York school district where Emma was enrolled connected Emma and her parents with an expert on gifted children. In turn, he hooked them up with a professional playwright who also worked with children. With her mentor's help, Emma has been honing her plays for two years now.
What your school does to help gifted students (and how it determines which kids are eligible) will depend on where you live. Some districts have established gifted and talented programs, while others handle such children on a case-by-case basis. As the No Child Left Behind Act has forced schools to make sure basic standards are met, some districts have pulled funding from programs for gifted students. Check with your state education association to learn what's available in your state, or with the National Association for Gifted Children for information.
If you or your child's teacher requests an evaluation of your child, the process may include intelligence tests, a review of your child's past work and standardized test scores, and an evaluation of his social and emotional development. After you all have a better understanding of his needs, the school may offer options such as:
- Differentiated approaches to learning: Well-trained teachers will tailor lessons to kids based on their abilities, which in most classrooms will be varied. Some children may be working ahead in math or science. Others may be challenged with writing assignments or different book choices.
- Pull-out programs: Children attend special classes for math or reading or some other specific skill.
- Push-in programs: A resource teacher comes to the classroom on a regular basis to provide enrichment in a particular subject area.
- Acceleration: If your child is in 4th grade but capable of 9th grade math, the district may arrange for him to take math at the middle or high school.
- Curriculum compacting: Before beginning a new unit, a teacher offers a pretest, allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject. If yours already knows her multiplication tables, for example, her teacher may give her more challenging tasks instead of forcing her to stay back with the class.
- Grade skipping: Though this practice has fallen out of favor, it is regaining momentum in some places, says Gallagher. The trick is proper evaluation of a student to see that he is ready to move ahead both academically and socially.
Your school district may also have programs for children whose gifts are more artistic in nature. Look for clubs, after-school activities, and special classes that honor the talents of artistically gifted students.
At Home
Having a child who loves to learn doesn't mean you need to be running a little schoolhouse at home; far form it. "A parent's job is to help her child recognize her abilities and interests and to use those as a springboard to develop other interests," says Sandy Kaplan, Ed.D., clinical professor at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education.
A growing body of research indicates that giftedness is not just inherited, says Gallagher. "The early years are extremely important in nurturing and stimulating intellects," he says. "Once they're stimulated, they take off." So help your child to soar by creating an environment that honors the gifts you know about — and tickles the ones that are just below the surface.
- Provide opportunities, resources, and encouragement: What interests your child? Dinosaurs? Space? Art? Take him to museums, movies, plays, and other events that allow him to learn more about what he already loves. (Two-year-old Jake delighted in a subscription to Car & Driver magazine.) Supply books, movies, computer games — anything that bolsters that passion. And encourage him to pursue it, says Renzulli.
- Share her gifts: Showcase your child's talents in front of what Renzulli calls "relevant audiences." Don't make Susie perform in front of the family if doing so embarrasses her. But find a class where performance is key. If writing's her thing, help her submit stories to Stone Soup or New Moon, magazines that publish children's work.
- Allow for unscheduled time: It sounds silly, but giving your child time to dream, reflect, sit alone, and ruminate is truly important if you want to inspire creativity, says Kaplan. "Let him dabble and play with raw materials, learn how to build and create. And don't get upset if there's no amazing product at the end. Kids need time to experiment."
- Learn from others: Connect with other parents whose kids are like yours — find them via the National Association for Gifted Children.
